(WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 21, 2018) – Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday mark the start of the holiday retail season, not to mention the celebration of National Entrepreneurship Month in November. The National Retail Federation estimates 67 million Americans will be making purchases on Saturday, and of those 78 percent will plan to do so in support of entrepreneurs and small businesses. Small businesses in the U.S. include direct sellers who made up an estimated 18.6 million people involved in direct selling in 2017 according to the Direct Selling Association 2017 Facts and Data.

“Direct sellers are America’s Original Entrepreneurs and represent the heart and soul of small business in our country,” said Joseph N. Mariano, president of the Direct Selling Association. “As Americans consider ways to celebrate and support their local entrepreneurs and small business, the Direct Selling Association encourages shoppers to shop small, in some cases very small, by supporting our community members engaged in the direct selling of products and services from some of the country’s most well-known and loved brands.”

Direct sellers will be open for business on Small Business Saturday on November 24, 2018, across the United States.

ABOUT THE DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION

The Direct Selling Association (DSA) is the national trade association for companies that offer entrepreneurial opportunities to independent sellers to market and sell products and services, typically outside of a fixed retail establishment.  In 2017, 18.6 million Americans were involved in some capacity in direct selling in every state, congressional district and community across the United States. In 2017, direct selling generated $34.9 billion in retail sales.